Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Metal \Met"al\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. m['e]tal, L. metallum
   metal, mine, Gr. ? mine; cf. Gr. ? to search after. Cf.
   {Mettle}, {Medal}.]
   1. (Chem.) An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or
      copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than
      acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or
      metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals
      and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid
      and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.

   Note: Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible
         metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc,
         nickel, etc., and also to the mixed metals, or metallic
         alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell metal, etc.

   2. Ore from which a metal is derived; -- so called by miners.
      --Raymond.

   3. A mine from which ores are taken. [Obs.]

            Slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals. --Jer.
                                                  Taylor.

   4. The substance of which anything is made; material; hence,
      constitutional disposition; character; temper.

            Not till God make men of some other metal than
            earth.                                --Shak.

   5. Courage; spirit; mettle. See {Mettle}. --Shak.

   Note: The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword
         blade. --Skeat.

   6. The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting
      railroads.

   7. The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel
      of war.

   8. Glass in a state of fusion. --Knight.

   9. pl. The rails of a railroad. [Eng.]

   {Base metal} (Chem.), any one of the metals, as iron, lead,
      etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized, in contrast
      with the noble metals. In general, a metal of small value,
      as compared with gold or silver.

   {Fusible metal} (Metal.), a very fusible alloy, usually
      consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium.

   {Heavy metals} (Chem.), the metallic elements not included in
      the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths, or the
      earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury,
      platinum, lead, silver, etc.

   {Light metals} (Chem.), the metallic elements of the alkali
      and alkaline earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium,
      magnesium, etc.; also, sometimes, the metals of the
      earths, as aluminium.

   {Muntz metal}, an alloy for sheathing and other purposes,
      consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of
      zinc. Sometimes a little lead is added. It is named from
      the inventor.

   {Prince's metal} (Old Chem.), an alloy resembling brass,
      consisting of three parts of copper to one of zinc; --
      also called {Prince Rupert's metal}.

Muntz metal \Muntz" met`al\
   See under {Metal}.

Composition \Com`po*si"tion\, n. [F. composition, fr. L.
   compositio. See {Composite}.]
   1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or
      integral, by placing together and uniting different
      things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses:
      (a) The invention or combination of the parts of any
          literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as,
          the composition of a poem or a piece of music. ``The
          constant habit of elaborate composition.'' --Macaulay.
      (b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the
          different parts of a work of art as to produce a
          harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as
          such. See 4, below.
      (c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as
          English, Latin, German, etc.
      (d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for
          printing.

   2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction;
      combination; adjustment.

            View them in composition with other things. --I.
                                                  Watts.

            The elementary composition of bodies. --Whewell.

   3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances;
      as, a chemical composition.

            A composition that looks . . . like marble.
                                                  --Addison.

   4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially
      one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used
      of an elementary essay or translation done as an
      educational exercise.

   5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.]

            There is no composition in these news That gives
            them credit.                          --Shak.

   6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement
      of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or
      conditions of settlement; agreement.

            Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be
            written.                              --Shak.

   7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an
      obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between
      the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation
      agreed upon in the adjustment.

            Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood.
                                                  --Hallam.

            Cleared by composition with their creditors.
                                                  --Blackstone.

   8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis.

            The investigation of difficult things by the method
            of analysis ought ever to precede the method of
            composition.                          --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.

   {Composition cloth}, a kind of cloth covered with a
      preparation making it waterproof.

   {Composition deed}, an agreement for composition between a
      debtor and several creditors.

   {Composition plane} (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two
      individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved
      positions.

   {Composition of forces} (Mech.), the finding of a single
      force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in
      effect to two or more given forces (called the components)
      when acting in given directions. --Herbert.

   {Composition metal}, an alloy resembling brass, which is
      sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; --
      also called {Muntz metal} and {yellow metal}.

   {Composition of proportion} (Math.), an arrangement of four
      proportionals so that the sum of the first and second is
      to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the
      fourth.

Source : WordNet®

Muntz metal
     n : a brass that has more zinc and is stronger than alpha brass;
         used in making castings and hot-worked products [syn: {alpha-beta
         brass}, {yellow metal}]